Belen, Gulliver at Forza Stefano Water Polo. Plus college signing, soccer nominees and more
Miami Gulliver Prep excelled in boys’ and girls’ divisions during the 9th annual Forza Stefano Water Polo Tournament at Pembroke Pines Charter School.
Twenty-eight teams (16 boys, 12 girls) from Central and South Florida participated in the three-day competition.
The Gulliver Prep girls’ water polo team went 4-0 to win the tournament and remain undefeated, now 12-0.
GIRLS: Gulliver Prep 19, Boca Raton 1: Sofia Beltran 8 blocks, 4 steals, 2 assists; Mariana Bernal 4 assists, 1 steal; Kathleen Serig 3 goals, 2 assists; Sophia Kingston 2 goals, 2 assists, 1 steal. GP 9-0.
GIRLS: Quarterfinals: Gulliver Prep 22, St. Thomas Aquinas 4: Kathleen Serig 7 goals, 5 assists, 6 steals; Sophia Kingston 5 goals, 2 assists, 8 steals; Emma Preston 4 goals, 3 assists, 2 steals; Isabella Ten Have 3 goals, 2 steals, 2 ejections drawn. GP 10-0.
GIRLS: Semifinals: Gulliver Prep 15, Ransom Everglades 6: Sophia Kingston 5 goals, 6 assists, 3 steals; Kathleen Serig 4 goals, 3 assists, 2 earned exclusions, 2 steals; Isabella Ten Have 4 goals, 3 steals; Julia Fogel 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 steals, outstanding defense. GP 11-0.
GIRLS: Championship: Gulliver Prep 11, West Orange 5: Kathleen Serig 4 goals, 2 assists, 3 earned exclusions, 3 steals; Emma Preston 4 goals; Isabella Ten Have 2 goals, 3 earned exclusions, 3 steals; Sophia Beltran 8 blocks, 1 steal, 1 assist. GP 12-0.
On the boys’ side, Miami Gulliver Prep went 3-1, defeating Riviera Beach Suncoast, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Miami Belen Jesuit. Miami Mater Lakes Academy won the tournament while handing the Raiders (8-4) their lone loss of the event.
Belen had a very good showing, too. The Wolverines (13-1) defeated Dr. Krop 16-7 and MAST 16-5 to reach the semifinals. That’s where they suffered their first loss of the season to Gulliver Prep. They regrouped to edge last year’s state champ Orlando Dr. Phillips 14-13 in the bronze (third place) match.
BOYS: Gulliver Prep 21, Riviera Beach Suncoast 3: Patrick Gardner 6 goals, 1 assist, 3 steals; Alberto Escobedo 3 goals, 1 assist, 5 steals; Ale Altman 3 goals, 3 steals, 2 earned exclusions; Sebastian Piedra 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 steals. GP 6-3.
BOYS: Quarterfinals: Gulliver Prep 12, St. Thomas Aquinas 8: Sebastian Piedra 2 goals,3 assists, 3 steals; Matthew Preston 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 steals; Juan Sebastian Ibarra 11 blocks; Alberto Escobedo 3 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal. GP 7-3.
BOYS: Semifinals: Gulliver Prep 15, Belen Jesuit 11: Patrick Gardner 2 goals, 3 assists, 4 earned exclusions, 4 steals; Jesse Manno 4 goals, 3 assists, 2 earned exclusions, 2 steals; Alejandro Altman 2 goals, 2 earned exclusions, 1 steal; Sebastian Piedra 2 goals, 2 assists, 3 earned exclusions. GP 8-3.
A skilled water polo player from Pembroke Pines, Stefano Dioguardi lost his battle with cancer in 2016 at age 19, but his family was inspired to do something -- to give his life even more meaning. They created the Forza Stefano Charitable Foundation.
The mission at Forza Stefano is to support cancer patients, age 13-21.
Check http://www.forzastefano.org/
College signing
Florida Christian golfer Mason Keisch was accepted into the Naval Academy, and he will play for the NCAA Division 1 Naval Academy men’s golf team.
Keisch, a co-captain, has been an integral part of the Florida Christian boys’ golf team the past two years, helping the Patriots qualify for state both years. In 2023, the Patriots placed fifth at state in Class 1A, and in 2024 the team was 14th at state.
Keisch was a Miami Herald All-Dade second team selection in 2023 and honorable mention in 2024.
Boys’ volleyball
Miami Columbus and Doral Reagan are unbeaten in the early goings of the boys’ volleyball season.
▪ Columbus d. St. Thomas Aquinas 25-18, 23-25, 25–18, 25-18: Lucas Riva 27 kills, 3 blocks, 11 digs; Daniel Rubi 7 kills, 3 aces, 7 digs; Dante Muñecas 7 kills, 2 aces, 7 digs; Charlie Friguls 47 assists, 1 ace, 9 digs. Col 3-0.
▪ Columbus d. Braddock 25-13, 22-25, 25-22, 25-12: Daniel Rubi 15 kills, 8 digs; Marco Blavia 12 kills, 8 digs, 3 aces; Dante Muñecas 10 kills, 2 aces. Col 2-0.
▪ Reagan d. Belen Jesuit 27-25, 25-20, 28-26: Yeison Gonzalez 19 kills, 8 digs, 27 serve received, 2 aces; Diego Requena 32 assists, 7 kills, 3 aces; Diego Cobena 10 kills, 18 serve received, 3 aces; Santiago Mejias 6 digs, 13 serve received, 3 assists; Michael Perez 6 kills, 2 aces. Rea 3-0.
▪ Reagan d. Sunset 25-18, 25-17, 25-22: Yeison Gonzalez 15 kills, 10 digs, 23 serve received, 2 blocks; Diego Requena 38 assists, 3 kills, 2 aces; Michael Perez 12 kills; Santiago Mejias 18 digs, 17 serve received, 4 aces, 3 assists; Gabriel Arias 6 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace. Rea 2-0.
Lacrosse
▪ GIRLS: Palmetto 12, Ransom Everglades 11: The Panthers, coached by Jenna Martino-DiFede, improved to 5-2. Sophie Perales 3 goals, 4 ground balls, 3 turnovers; Samira Moore 3 goals, 3 ground balls; Alex James 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 ground balls; Orli Clarin 5 ground balls, 3 turnovers; G Sophomore Sofia Cohn 5 saves; G Paula Ortiz 4 saves.
%20Photo%20By%20Seth%20Clarin%20March%202025.jpg "Palmetto G lacrosse (2) Photo By Seth Clarin March 2025.jpg")
▪ GIRLS: Palmetto 13, Gulliver Prep 9: Samira Moore 4 goals, 2 groundballs, 3 turnovers, 6 face-off wins; Alex James 2 goals, 3 assists; Paula Ortiz and Sofia Cohn split time in goal for the win. Plm 6-2.
Softball
▪ Flanagan 19, Miramar 4: Winning Pitcher Jurnee Bent 9 K; Emily Arias 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Jasmine Gonzalez 1-3, 3 R; Jurnee Bent 2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI; Amy Chacko 1-3, 2 R; Tyla Horne 1-2, 2 R, RBI; Lyric Jones 1-2, R, 2 RBI. Flan 3-3.
Baseball
▪ Doral Academy 16, Homestead ABF Academy 1: Jaivyn Francois 1-1, HR, 4 RBI; Gabriel Milano 3-4, 3 R; Bryan Ravelo 1-2, RBI; Jadyn Nunez 1-2, 2 RBI; Winning Pitcher Marcelo Rodriguez 3 IP, 5 K. Dor 9-2–1.
Soccer nominees
The ballot for the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Soccer and Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year state awards includes South Florida coaches and players.
They are: 7A: Liam Ulinski (Stoneman Douglas) SR CB 3 goals; Justin White (Cypress Bay) SR CB; Manuel Benen (Doral Academy) SR M 10 goals, 3 assists; Thomas Calonge (Columbus) SR M 1 goal, 1 assist; Coach Christian Chacon (Stoneman Douglas) 12-3-2; Coach Pamela McDonald (Doral Academy) 13-8-3 State Final Four; Coach Colin Ilgner (Cypress Bay) 12-5-3; Coach Kameron Clark (Columbus) 13-7-4.
6A: Chase Carroll (St. Thomas Aquinas) SR F 12 goals, 11 assists; Lucas Velazco (South Broward) SR M 9 goals, 10 assists; Tommy Visintini (Miami Beach) SR M 11 goals, 2 assists; Leonardo Pinera (Braddock) SR F 9 goals, 9 assists; Coach John Walsh (St. Thomas Aquinas) 17-7-3; Coach Manuel Soutullo (Braddock) 12-3-3; Coach Phillippe Dupont (Miami Beach) 16-4-2; Coach Lionel Brown (South Broward) 19-2; Coach Richard Pierre-Louis (Miami Beach) 16-4-2.
5A: Mike Milford (Coconut Creek) SO M/F 7 goals, 4 assists; Logan Hall (Pembroke Pines Charter) SR F 20 goals, 14 assists; Gonzalez Civil (North Miami) SR F 18 goals, 1 assist; Coach Brandon Wray (Coconut Creek) 14-3-2; Coach Marc Lue Young (Pembroke Pines Charter) 18-1-2 State Final Four.
4A: Chase Hermann (Pompano Beach) SR M 6 goals, 9 assists; Cory Edwards (Somerset Academy) JR F/M 25 goals, 20 assists; Gabriel Vinderman (Mourning) SR GK 10-1-2, 10 SHO, 0.492 GAA; Gaspar Fernandez (Belen Jesuit) SR M 7 goals, 7 assists; Gabriel Zapata (Mater Lakes) SR F 20 goals, 12 assists; Coach James Elder (Pompano Beach) 9-12-1; Coach Lance Lass (Somerset Academy) 15-6-2; Coach Daniel Tomassi (Mourning) 10-4-2; Coach Tanger Mendonca (Belen Jesuit) 15-6-6 Regional Finalist; Coach Davide Favaro (Mater Lakes) 23-2-1 State Runner-up.
3A: Luigi Olivieri (Cardinal Gibbons) SR M 6 goals, 6 assists; Raul Leyva (NSU University) JR F/M 17 goals, 11 assists; Alexander Naranjo (Miami SLAM) SR F/M 11 goals, 2 assists; Jorge Gouvea (Gulliver Prep) SR M 12 goals, 10 assists; David Derk (American Heritage) JR GK 11-4-1, 3 SHO, 0.681 GAA; Coach Eric De Sousa (Somerset Academy) 10-7-2 Regional Finalist; Coach Rafael Ferreiro (Cardinal Gibbons) 10-8-1; Coach Josue Arguijo (Miami SLAM) 14-6-3; Coach Scott Davidson (Gulliver Prep) 19-3-2 State Final Four; Coach Thiago Oliviera (NSU University) 16-4-1 Regional Finalist; Coach Victor Sanchez (American Heritage) 12-4-3 State Champion.
2A: Jorge Garcia (Chaminade Madonna) JR M 7 goals, 8 assists; Miguel Petter (Divine Savior) SR SW 21 goals, 2 assists; Cristian Garcia (Florida Christian) SR F 22 goals, 7 assists; Gabriel Suarez (Westminster Christian) JR M/F 17 goals, 7 assists; Coach Jared Ray (Chaminade Madonna) 6-5-1; Coach Santiago Botero (Divine Savior) 6-7-3; Coach Josh Kirk (Westminster Christian) 13-6-1; Coach Fernando Hernandez (Florida Christian) 11-9-3 State Final Four; Coach Arie Berti (Scheck Hillel) 17-2-1 Regional Finalist.
1A: Hopeny Louis (Highlands Christian) SO F/M 25 goals, 4 assists; Juan Padilla (North Miami SLAM) SR M/F 14 goals, 12 assists; Daniel Yanes (Pinecrest) SR M 34 goals, 6 assists; Coach Erick Roque (North Miami SLAM) 10-7 Regional Finalist; Coach Davidson Loriston (Highlands Christian) 16-7-2 State Final Four.
Basketball
The Orange Bowl Florida High School Basketball Showcase, presented by Memorial Healthcare System, is 8 a.m. Saturday, March 15 at the Davis Posnack JCC in Davie.
The event is free to high school juniors and seniors to showcase their hoop skills in front of coaches, representing 30-plus colleges and universities. Scholarships and/or financial aid can be awarded to more than 400 student athletes.
For info, go to:
https://www.orangebowl.org/basketballshowcase/
Send high school sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. Send after the game, the next day or weekly. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 12:18 AM.
